17 comments:

Hello ChrisI've just finished reading your latest book, Out There. I read a short review in the TGO Magazine and then ordered it. Thanks for a great book. I enjoyed it very much. Out There is in fact my third of your books. It was a funny coincidence, that a outdoor friend of mine, René Ljunggren and you are of the exact same age and both have been out there for 40 years. You share the same opinions about nature and being in nature.My girlfriend and I went to Scotland in early May for a 9 days introductury hike in stead of allways Lapland and Norway, and we loved it so much, so it will not be our last hike there.As a dane I have had a web-based subscription for the past couple of years, where I read your reviews with great interest.At the moment I'm waiting for the Cairngorms film to reach me in Copenhagen. This Monday morning I got a mail, that the film will probably get here today. I'm so looking forward to it.I have a question to you. I'm doing a lot of oneday-hikes in Denmark, where I take 12-15 person groups for tours around in Sealand to show them the beautiful nature. In addition to this I for the last 5 years have done weekend hikes in the southern parts of the nearby Sweden to show the participants the beautiful wildernes-like areas, that are only 2 h drive from Copenhagen.Here's my question to you: As I'm expecting that the Cairngorms-film is great, I think, that I would be a great pleasure for some of my outdoor friend to see the film as well. I'd so much like to inspire them to your writings and show them about the possibilities in Scotland. Is it ok (: legal), that I show the film for - say - 20 of my outdoor friends, so that we after the film can talk about it, or will I violate any copyrights doing that?Looking forward to hear from you.Yours Thomas Vaaben Søgaard

I am very much in favour of rewilding and the introduction of lynx and other missing fauna. I don't think it will have any effect on walkers and wild campers other than to make our wild places wilder and more natural. I've written about it a few times on my blog. Here's one piece - http://www.christownsendoutdoors.com/2015/08/of-wolves-woods-thoughts-on-rewilding.html

Hello Chris, I hope your website helps you as I value your writings and advise.I would love to do a weekend hiking / camping in Scotland. Surely for your advise on gear you could take small groups hiking as per Andrew Skurka. My hiking partner who lives in Toronto learnt a lot from him on travelling lighter. PS: just purchased the Sherpa fleece you recommended, its great. very best wishes. Colin M

I am putting together a winter program for Duke of Edinburgh's Award Volunteers in Perth & Kinross and would like to discuss hiring you for a talk later in the year.Steve McQueen pkassociation@dofedoocot.plus.com 01738 627455

great item about the pacific crest trail. A coincidence that last year my family and I backpacked in Goat Rocks Wilderness, climbing old snowy mountain and camping for one night at Goat Lake on a three day trip. My kids were fascinated by the nightly routine of hiding food up a tree to keep the bears away. Your book on Scotland (world mountain Ranges) is currently our family bible!Keep up the great work.

i ChrisWelcome back from your recent trip, it’s been very interesting following your progress on social media. I was particularly impressed with the quality of your Smartphone photographs.I’ve been considering replacing my Ixus 114HS compact camera (203g), my elderly pay as you go phone (97g) and possibly my Garmin Etrex 20 GPS (205g with spare batteries) for a pay as you go Smartphone.As my camera and phone are due for replacement I thought this would be a good opportunity to combine the two and possibly save some weight. It would also give me the ability to listen to audio books and podcasts when wild camping on long winter nights.Do you have any suggestions as to which phone I should buy? I would prefer one using Android OS other than that I am open to any suggestions.Regards Geoff

My girlfriend and I are getting into rambling and hill walking, and want to also try some more adventurous mountain stuff in the coming years - I have just purchased my first pair of walking boots - a pair of Meindl leather boots with a Gore-Tex lining. As I feared, they're incredibly hot and heavy!

I'm considering looking more towards the trail/fell shoe side of the market for something a lot more breathable and lightweight. I know you have been a fan of some of the Inov8 footwear - any recent suggestions you could give me?

We live in Cambridgeshire so nothing much more than undulating ground for most walks, but we'd like to go walking/wild camping in the peak district, Scotland, Snowdon etc. too

There's quite a few good trail shoes on the market. As with boots fit is of course the most important factor. I did wear Inov8 shoes for several years but the model I liked has been dropped and none of the current range fit me. I've just reviewed a selection of trail shoes for the next issue of The Great Outdoors magazine so you can see what I think of several models there.

Hello Chris, I first learned of you and your adventures through your book "The Backpacker's Handbook". I was a beginner then and you and your book has been the greatest influence and impact on me concerning walking and backpacking in nature. I wanted to know if you are considering writing an autobiograpy of yourself?

Hello Mark, glad you found my book so useful. I'm not planning on an autobiography at present but my next book, which will be about my Scottish Watershed walk and which I'm writing at present, will be more autobiographical than previous books.